Birmingham, July 31: Defending champions India stormed into the semi-finals of the men’s table tennis team event at the Commonwealth Games after thrashing Bangladesh 3-0 in the third last-eight tie here on Sunday.
The men’s team, led by Achanta Sharath Kamal, had outclassed Barbados, Singapore and Northern Ireland by identical 3-0 margin in the group stage to make the quarter-finals.
First to turn up in the quarter-finals, doubles pair of Harmeet Desai and Sathiyan Gnansekaran defeated Ramhimilian Bawm and Mohutasin Ahmed Ridoy of Bangladesh in three straight games 11-8, 11-6, 11-2 to hand India a 1-0 lead.
Veteran Sharath Kamal then trounced Md Rifat Sibbar in the men’s singles 11-4, 11-7, 11-2 to extend India’s lead.
In the other singles match, Gnansekaran dominated the proceedings from start to finish to notch up an easy 11-2, 11-3, 11-5 win and seal the tie.
Women’s team crashes out
India’s hopes of retaining the women’s team gold medal they won four years ago ended on Saturday with the team led by golden girl Manika Batra crashing out 3-2 to Malaysia in the quarterfinals at the Commonwealth Games 2022 here on Saturday.
The Indian team had three young players besides the experienced Batra, the highest-ranked women’s table tennis player in the country, who found the going tough against the Malaysians in a match played at NEC Table Tennis Show Court 1 on Saturday.
Indecently, the Indians had defeated Malaysia 3-0 while surging to the gold medal win in 2018.
The Indian players will now get a couple of days rest to prepare for the individual events in which Batra had won the gold medal four years ago in Gold Coast.
The 41st ranked paddler will also compete in women’s doubles with Reeth Tennison and mixed doubles with G Sathiyan. (Agencies)
